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绎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
绎
yì
continuous
g, 8 strokes, radical 纟, rank #80486, Very Hard
绎
yì
to interpret
g, 8 strokes, radical 纟, rank #80486, Very Hard
绎
yì
to unravel
g, 8 strokes, radical 纟, rank #80486, Very Hard
绎
yì
to draw silk (old)
g, 8 strokes, radical 纟, rank #80486, Very Hard
yì(yi4)yi T4
1continuous
2to interpret
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March 24, 2026
绎(繹)yì(yi4)
The character 绎 (yì) primarily means to interpret, unravel, or draw silk. It conveys the idea of continuous action or process, often in contexts relating to explaining complex concepts or revealing deeper meanings. It is frequently used in literary and academic discussions.
Strokes8Radical纟Frequency#80486DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, silk production was a highly esteemed craft, and the act of unraveling silk ties deeply into the history of trade and artistry. The character reflects the cultural significance of silk, not only as a fabric but also as a metaphor for unraveling complex thoughts.
Memory tip
Imagine a silk thread being unwound continuously, representing the act of unraveling or interpreting something complex. The character 绎 resembles a person drawing silk (the top part) while unraveling a mystery (the bottom part, depicting the flow of silk). The sound 'yì' can remind you of 'yeast', which helps to 'unravel' the ingredients in baking.
Meanings of 绎
yì(yi4)
1continuous
2to interpret
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 绎 means.
About 绎
绎Simplified
繹Traditional
8Strokes
纟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 绎
Podcast: 绎
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AI study notes for 绎
Quick Contrast
解 (jiě) vs 理 (lǐ) — use 绎 (yì) when emphasizing the process of unraveling or interpreting complex ideas, while 解 (jiě) focuses more on understanding or solving, and 理 (lǐ) pertains to reasoning or principles.
Usage Notes
One common mistake is using 绎 in overly casual contexts, as it is more formal and literary in tone. It often collocates with terms like '解释' (to explain) or '阐述' (to elaborate). Be mindful of the tones, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 绎 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with HSK level 5 words like '解释' (to explain) and '理解' (to understand). Students should focus on its usage in literary contexts and its relationship with other words that express analysis or explanation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 绎 with similar characters like 意 (yì), mistaking it for 'meaning'. For example, saying '我想要绎这个' (I want to meaning this) should be corrected to '我想要理解这个' (I want to understand this).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 绎
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Knowing 绎 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 绎 (yì) primarily means to interpret, unravel, or draw silk. It conveys the idea of continuous action or process, often in contexts relating to explaining complex concepts or revealing deeper meanings. It is frequently used in literary and academic discussions.
When to use 绎
One common mistake is using 绎 in overly casual contexts, as it is more formal and literary in tone. It often collocates with terms like '解释' (to explain) or '阐述' (to elaborate). Be mindful of the tones, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
绎 or something close to it
解 (jiě) vs 理 (lǐ) — use 绎 (yì) when emphasizing the process of unraveling or interpreting complex ideas, while 解 (jiě) focuses more on understanding or solving, and 理 (lǐ) pertains to reasoning or principles.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 绎 with similar characters like 意 (yì), mistaking it for 'meaning'. For example, saying '我想要绎这个' (I want to meaning this) should be corrected to '我想要理解这个' (I want to understand this).
Write 绎
绎
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Practice writing 绎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 绎
绎 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
爱乐乐团精彩演____了这首高难度乐曲。
The Philharmonia played this staggeringly difficult music superlatively well.
Example sentences for 绎 (6)
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1
爱乐乐团精彩演绎了这首高难度乐曲。
ài lè lè tuán jīngcǎi yǎnyì le zhè shǒu gāo nándù yuèqǔ。
The Philharmonia played this staggeringly difficult music superlatively well.
2
她的嗓音擅长演绎有难度的歌曲。
tā de sǎngyīn shàncháng yǎnyì yǒu nándù de gēqǔ。
Hers is the kind of voice that excels at vocal gymnastics.
